Senior Robotic Systems Engineer

ABOUT THE ROLE This is a foundational senior engineering hire at a small, ambitious robotics startup in Munich building a fully flexible, intelligent robotic work cell for the hardest manual tasks in industry — surface finishing, welding, and coating. You will own the core robotics software stack end-to-end, from motion planning and control to perception integration and real-world deployment in industrial environments. This is a high-ownership, high-impact role for someone who thrives on real hardware, moves fast, and wants to shape both product and engineering culture from an early stage. Equity participation is a meaningful part of the package. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Own the core robotics software stack of the work cell architecture - Develop and optimize motion planning, trajectory generation, and control algorithms - Integrate perception systems — cameras, force/torque sensors, LiDAR — into real-time control loops - Design, implement, and validate industrial safety concepts and fail-safe behaviors - Lead on-site testing, calibration, and commissioning of robotic work cells in industrial environments - Drive architecture decisions and establish engineering best practices across the team WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Must-haves (dealbreakers): - 5+ years of hands-on robotics experience in industrial automation, including direct work with industrial robotic arms - Proficiency in C++ and Python for robotics software development - Production experience with ROS 2 for robot software development and integration - Ability and willingness to work fully on-site in Munich, Germany (relocation required if not already local; no visa sponsorship available) Required skills & experience: - Hands-on experience with industrial robot arms (e.g., KUKA, ABB, Fanuc, Universal Robots) in real production environments - Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks and/or CATIA for mechanical understanding and integration - Experience with industrial communication protocols: EtherCAT and OPC-UA - Integration of perception systems (cameras, force/torque sensors, LiDAR) into real-time control loops - Design and validation of industrial safety concepts and fail-safe behaviors - On-site testing, calibration, and commissioning of robotic work cells - Domain experience in surface finishing, welding, or coating within manufacturing environments Nice to have: - German language skills (not required — English is fully sufficient) - Demonstrated ability to take independent ownership and collaborate cross-functionally in a startup environment COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Base salary: €75,000 – €110,000 per year (depending on experience) - Equity participation: meaningful equity stake as an early team member - High-ownership role with direct influence on product and engineering direction LOCATION - Munich, Germany — fully on-site - Relocation to Munich is required - No remote or hybrid option available for this role - No visa sponsorship — candidates must have the right to work in Germany